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THE LINCOLN WAY. 



REPORT 



OF THE 



BOARD OF TRUSTEES 



OF THE 



Illinois State Historical Library 



OF THE INVESTIGATIONS 



Made by Mr. C. M. Thompson 



In an attempt to locate the " Lixicoln Way." 




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THE LINCOLN ^A^AY. 



REPORT 

3LfJ 



OF THE 



BOARD OF TRUSTEES 



OF THE 



Illinois State Historical Library 

OF THE INVESTIGATIONS 

Made by Mr. C. M. Thompson 

In an attempt to locate the " Lincoln Way." 



X Springfield, III. 

Illinois State Journal Co., State Printers 
19 13 



EI 4^57 
.X33 



CONTENTS. 



I. Report of Library Board . 1 

II. Report of Investigations 3 

III. Appendix 13 



Oifl 
A utbor • 

MAY 19 ]|t3 



REPORT OX "TFTE LIXCOLX WAY 



To the General AssemhJij of the State of Illinois: 

Gentlemen- — The Foa'ty-seventh General Assenil,)ly of the State of 
Illinois by joint resolution directed the Board of Trustees of the Illi- 
nois State Historical Library '"'to make the necessary investigations 
to determine the exact route traveled by Abraham Lincoln in his removal 
from Kentucky to Illinois^ and to report to the General Assembly at as 
early a date as possible, and make such recommendations as they 
deem adnsable to carry out the purposes of this resolution." The pur- 
pose of the resolution and of the investigation, which it requests, is per- 
lia])s indicated in one of the inti^oductory clauses of the joint resolutiou. 
in which it is stated that "it is the sense of the people of Illinois that 
a fitting and permanent memorial to the memory of the great emanci- 
pator would be the consecration and dedication of the route that he 
traveled from the place of his birth in Kentucky, through Indiana, and 
thence to his tomb at Springfield, to be known forever as the "Lincoln 
Way." 

The tnistees of the Illinois State Historical Library heartily en- 
dorse the purpose of this joint resolution and gladly cooperate to con- 
duct the necessary investigations. 

At a meeting, held shortly after the adjournment of the last Legis- 
lature, the board of trustees of the historical library appointed its 
president, Professor Evarts B. Greene, a committee of one to take 
charge of the investigation of the "Lincoln Way." Professor Greene 
secnred the services of Mr. Charles M. Thompson, of the University of 
Illinois, to undertake the detailed work of. investigating the evidence 
that may throw light upon the problem. The trustees wish to place 
on record their high appreciation of the painstaking, thorough work 
which Mr. Thompson is doing in the effort to solve the many perplex- 
ing difficulties connected with the determination of the route taken by 
the family of Mr. Lincoln through Illinois. Furthermore it is to be . 
added that Mr. Thompson is generously donating his services to the 
State in this important Avork. 

This report is only a preliminary statement of the investigations 
undertaken, and of the plaus for the future investigations. The trus- 
tees will make a final report, with definite recommendations as soon as 
the subject can be exhaustively investigated, and the actual facts estab- 
lished. We present the report of Mr. Thompson to the tnistees of the 
historical library to show the progress that has thus far been made. 
It is to be noted that notwithstanding several months of careful inves- 
tigation, many portions of the roiite are still far from being definitely 



2 

(Iptcniiiiictl.. I'lic iii\<'.~i ii:;itiiv li;i> lic'cii roiiuiiiiic ill >-»'e-uriiig mter- 
vitMvs with si'vcnil prrsoii. old ><it!crs iind hk'hiIkts o[ the families ot' 
iiid st'ttlcrs, wlioso testimony is most valuable, rartieularly notowurthy 
is the testimony of ]Mrs. llan'iet Chapman, a survivinii' mejnber of the 
[)arty that made the journey from Indiana to Illinois in 1S3(). ^Ii-s. 
(Jhapman is a dauiihter of Dennis Hanks and was a rhild of about 
four years at the time when her parents and thi' Liiicolns made tlic 
tri]) to Illinois. 

Aeeordinir to tlu' (,'videnee jiresentcd by Mr. 'rhniii|iMiii it seems fairly 
well established that the Lineolns and their relatives .erosseil from 
Indiana into Illinois not at A'ineennes as is often supposed. t)ut farthei' 
north at Jiussellville. It seems probable that the paiMy tra\clled north- 
wards from Kussellville, but no deiinile eoiulusioiw .ire at pi'esent pre- 
sented. In the words of .Mr. 'J'hoiiiiison "these haviii;^ th<' investiij^ation 
in charge deem it advisable to eontimie the imcstiuation at every point." 

'J'he state of Kentueky has already taken action to dedicate the route 
travelled by the Lincoln family through that state. In Indiana also, 
considerable interest has been awakened in the proj)osal to locate and 
mark the ''Lincoln Way." Xaturally the attention of the trustees 
of the historical library is directed first to the route in our own State. 
Eventually it might be Avell to siiggest some plan of cooperation among 
the three states interested, bnt we shall not attempt to make any 
definite report on this phase o"f the subject until oiii' (inal report is pre- 
sented to your Honorable Body. 

The work of investigation is being energetically itroseeuted. and as 
soon as the evidi'iiee is all in. a final report will be prepared. 

r'lr.MtLKS IT. ItAM.MEI.KAMI', 

Otto L. Scmnirr. 
Spring(i<dd. Illinois. |)ecember '^o. 1^)12. 



TO THE TRUSTEES OF TPIE ILLIXOIS S'I'ATK 11 ISI'OIJICAI. 

LIBEARY. 



Gen'tlemex — In compliance with your rcqiicf^t I herewith submit a 
report of progress made in locating the '"Lincoln Way/' together with 
a diseussion oi' methods of investigation used and plans for further in- 
vestigation. During the year in which the investigation has been carried 
on, those in charge of the work have liad correspondence and personal 
interviews with hundreds of people in the states of Illinois and Indiana, 
and to all of these people the investigators have expressed the apprecia- 
tion of the library board for their disinterested assistance in the matter. 
A few, however, deserve special mention. They have given invaluable 
aid in the investigation, and at this particular time the opportunity is 
taken to express to them in a public maimer the sincere thanks of those 
having the investigation in charge. The apparently successful investiga- 
tion in Indiana Avas made possible through the untiring efforts of 
Mr. James Wade Emison of Vincennes. In Illinois, Byron E. Lewis 
of Bridgeport, Judge E. Callahan of Eobinson, E. S. Clayton, James 
Xichols and John F. Lafferty of JMartinsville, W. 0. Bennett and Joseph 
W. Thompson of Charleston, have given freely their time in making 
maps, searching local records for evidence or interviewing old citizens. 
Miss Caroline ]\1. ]\rcl lvalue of the Chicago Historical Library, and 
Mrs. Jessie Palmer Weber of the Illinois State Historical Library have 
put at the disposal of the investigators all the material of their respec- 
tive libraries. Officials ol" all the counties in which the investigation 
has been carried on, have uniforndy given every assistance in their power 
to expedite the search in their respective county archives. The officials 
and attachees of the Secretary of State's office at Springfield have like- 
wise lent their assistance by heartily cooperating in the investigation. 
To Dr. Solon J. Buck of the University of Illinois special thanks are 
due for his advice as to methods of procedure and tal)ulation of residts. 

Eespectfully. 

Charles ^I. Thompsox. 



I'K'Kl.IMIXAl.'V KKI'olv"!' (»\ 'I'lIK -LINCOLN WAV 



The Liucoliis and thoir relatives left Geiilryville, Speucer County, 
Indiana, on Marcli 1, 1830. The party consisted of thirteen men. 
women and children. According to the testimony of one of the two 
surviving members of that historic party, the following persons made 
the trip: Ucnnis Hanks, his Avife Elizabeth, and four children, Harriet. 
John, Sai-ah Jane and Nancy; Squire Hall, his wife Matilda, and 
child, John ; Thomas Lincoln," his wife Sarah, his son Abraham, and 
step-son John Johnston. The party had, by the same testimony, three 
covered wagons, of which two were dra^Mi by oxen and one by horses. 
In addition there were two saddle hoa-ses. (See Appendix, C.) On 
March 15, 1830, the party was in the vicinity of Decatur, having trav- 
eled something like two hnndred and twenty miles at the rate of aj)- 
proxi.mately lifteen miles per day. ^ 

'i'liis journey into Hlinois was not unlike tliousands of others made 
in the early thirties. The tall yonth that afterwards became president, 
attracted lio more attention along the way than did Inindreds of otliers. 
It woulil have required a prophetic vision indeed to have seen in him 
a future president of the United States. A great part of the journey 
was necessarily made along Indian trails, wdiich were being transfonned 
into wagon roads by the settlers of eastern Illinois. ]n some of the 
counties little or no attention had been paid in a public way to laying 
out and grading highways. The condition of the rivers in the spring 
of the vear must have influenced the travelers in selecting a road to the 
Sangaiiion cmmtry. On the one hand there woidd have been the desire 
to keep far awav from the lowlands along the river.*; on the other the 
possibilitv of being able to cross at natural fords situated on or near 
well esta))lislied trails or roads. 

Mhtiiods of TxVEsrUiAllON'. 

In making this iinestigation several sources of inrdiinatiim have fteen 
used : 

First — .\ullientie ])rinted secondary accounts, including whatever Mr. 
Lincoln is reported to have said about the jonrney. This source is 
meager in the extreme; and if Mr. TJncoln ever told any of his friends 
in (letail about his imeventful enti'y into Illinois it has failed to be 
recorded. 



Second — Data about roads and trails in Illinois from 1818 to 1830, 
gathered from (a) maps, (b) gazetteers, (c) State laws, (d) county 
commissioners' records, (e) surveyors' records and field notes, (f ) inter- 
views with old settlers, (g) stage routing books and sheets, (h) mail 
contracts, (i) contemporary newspapers, (j) actual observation of re- 
mains of trails. Maps and gazetteers have given little information. 
The former show only the well established routes, and the latter deal 
more with conditions of civilization and trade than with routes of 
travel. The State laws merely indicate that certain roads were author- 
ized, but the repetition of such authorizations in later laws leaves the 
impression that the roads may not have been built. Eecords of the. 
county commissioners' courts as well as those in the surveyors' offices 
are not satisfactory-. In a great many cases the location of a road is 
indicated by a "stake, in the prairie" or "John Smith's cabin." Inter- 
views with old settlers have been satisfactory on the whole, Avhile stage 
lists and mail contracts, although scanty in number, have thrown consid- 
erable light on the question under consideration. Contemporary news- 
papers have been of little value in the investigation; their columns are 
too much filled with political matter and public laws to give attention 
to roads and tlie condition of the weather at any particular time of the 
year. 

Third — Fewspapers issued between 1858 and 18G1. It has been 
hoped, but somewhat in vain, that something would l)e said, after j\Ir. 
Lincoln became a national figure, about the route taken by his family 
in this trip. 

Fourth — The topogTaphy of the country through which the Lincolns 
may have passed. 

Fifth — Interviews with Mrs. Harriet Chapman, daughter of Dennis, 
Hanks, one of the two surviving members of the party. 

Sixth — Well founded tradition. 

Those having the investigation in charge have made every effort to 
stimulate an interest in the "Lincoln Way," in all the localities through 
which the party might have passed. To do this the newspapers have 
been asked to agitate the matter, and in many localities the response 
has been very satisfactory. Visits have been made to every point where 
there seemed to be the least likelihood that personal interviews and ob- 
servations would throw any light on the subject under consideration. 
Every tradition has been respectfully received, and investigations set on 
foot regarding its authenticity. The ver}?- natiire of the sources upon 
which the investigation must of necessity be based makes the work so 
far done less satisfactory and certain than had been hoped. 

Progress of the Investigation. 

Obviously the investigation was best begun at the point where the 
Lincolns crossed the Wabash River. The evidence so far gathered 
seems to indicate that the party passed through Vincennes. So far as 
is known there is but one dissent to this opinion. In a very recent 
article by James K. Eardin, in the Charleston Daily ISTews, iSTovember 
29, 1913, the statement is made that the crossing was near Mt. Cannel. 
— 2 L W 



Earlier in the year, however, Mr. liardin was of the opinion that Vin- 
cennes and Lawrenceville hiy on the route, (See Appendix, D), and the 
reasons which led to his change of opinion do not appear in the article. 

Assuming- that the Lincolns were at Vincennes, the question arises, 
where did they cross tlie Wabash liiver? At the beginning of the in- 
vestigation it was the opinion of those having the matter in charge 
that the crossing was made at Vincennes. (See Appendix, A). Later 
investigations, however, disclosed another and more likely route from 
Vincennes to eastern Illinois via Bruceville, Indiana, to the Wabash 
Eiver at Eusscllville, Illinois, and to .support the claim for this route 
four affidavits have been submitted by citizens of Indiana. (See Ap- 
pendix. B.) 

Disregarding for a moment the affidavits mentioned above, let us 
consider all other practicable routes from Vincennes to Palestine, Illi- 
nois, the next point where Lincoln appears. If the crossing was made 
at Vincennes, but two routes appear to have been feasible, one of which 
would have taken them through Lawrenceville, Illinois. At that time 
the Great Western Mail Eoute extended westward from Vincennes 
through Lawrenceville toward St. Louis. Stages ran upon it at regu- 
lar intervals throughout the gTeatcr part of the year, but there is some 
doubt as to its being passable during the spring months. We have, 
however, no positive evidence in the matter for that particular time. 
. There is a tradition of a road running northward from Lawnrenceville, 
but how far it ran and in what parts of the year it -was passable, are 
matters of doubt. It is the opinion of Byron E. Lewis of Bridgeport 
and other authorities on the history of Lawrence County, that the road 
not only did not extend northward any great distance, but that it 
would have been impassable in the spring of the year. The second pos- 
sible road led up the Illinois side of the Wabash Eiver over or around 
the i)u Bois hills. Settlers lived in this vicinity, but it has not yet 
l)een proved that the road extended beyond these settlements to Eussell- 
ville and thence to Palestine. In 1831, the State Legislature of Illi- 
nois provided that such a road be viewed, but a search of both State 
and county records fails to bring to light any evidence to show whether 
or not such a road actually existed in 1830. The country lying between 
the Wabash Eiver and Lawrenceville is very low. and the laws of Illi- 
nois show that the Great Western Mail Eoute between Lawrenceville 
and Vincennes was built at great labor and expense. Although an 
examination of the ground leaves the impression that a road around 
the Du Bois hills could have been built with less labor and expense 
than had the Lawrenceville-Vincennes road, there is absolutely nothing 
to show that such a route would have been a practicable one in spring. 
A stage routing sheet in the possession of Mr. A. G. Woodbury, Dan- 
ville, Illinois, shows that in 1829 and 1830, the distance from Vin- 
cennes to Palestine was twenty-five miles. Such a distance would 
seem to preclude the opinion that the stage ran via Lawrenceville. 

Four other bits of evidence point to the Bruceville route as more 
probable than the road around the Du Bois hills. In the first place 
the road from Vincennes to Eusscllville via Bruceville had been long 
established in the year 1830, while there is no ])ositive evidence that the 
other road extended as far as Eussellvillo. Secondlv. men wlio claim 



to be familiar with the situation say that the stage ran via Bniceville. 
Again there is evidence to show that it was ciistomar}^ long after 1830 
for people to go from eastern Illinois to Vincennes by crossing the river 
at Eussellville. Mrs, Chapman, daughter of Dennis Hanks, swears that 
the party did not cross at Vincennes, but that the crossing was made 
on the second day after leaving Vincennes. (See Appendix, C). Her 
knowledge concerning the camping place the night out of Vincennes 
agrees exactly with the statement of William 0. Eoach. (See Appendix, 
B.) So far as the evidence at hand is concerned the party seems to 
have gone from Vincennes to Eussellville via Bruceville. 

Mrs. Chapman swears that the party passed through Palestine, Illi- 
nois. According to her affidavit she remembers the name by the fact 
that it was taken from the Bible. (See Appendix, C.) Miss Tarbell in 
her "Life of Lincoln" states that Mr. Lincoln once mentioned to 
some of his friends that he recalled taking notice of a large crowd as- 
sembled in front of the land office at Palestine. Practically the same 
statement is made in Tarbell and Davis, "Early Life of Lincoln." 
If it be assumed that the party passed through Eussellville, nothing 
would be more natural, than that Palestine should be on the route. 
Stretching northward from Eussellville was, and is, a natural highway, 
which, on account of the sandy nature of the soil in that region, would 
be passable throughout the whole year. A greater part of this road has 
been personally examined, and old men born in that region who have 
been interviewed say that no matter what the condition of the weather 
the road has remained in good shape. It is the route of a once import- 
ant Indian trail used by the Piankeshaw Indians in going from the 
headwaters of the Embarrass Eiver to the Wabash country around Vin- 
cennes. (See Appendix, G). There is no indication at hand, more- 
over, of any other road leading from Eussellville to the central and 
east central parts of the State. Palestine at that time was a land office 
town, and it is to be supposed that its location was due in part to its 
accessibility from the more thickly populated regions on the lower 
Wabash, as well as to the interior where the public lands lay. In addi- 
tion there is a tradition in Palestine of the party having passed through 
that place. 

The Eussellville-Palestine road stretches northward from the latter 
place to York. From York there seems to have been an Indian trail lead- 
ing northwestward near what is now Melrose. Another trail led north- 
ward from York some two or three miles and then turned westward 
past old Fort Handy, joining the other trail not far from Melrose. If 
the party used either of these trails, the latter would have offered the 
fewer obstacles. First of all, it would have allowed the travelers to 
remain on the sandy road longer than they could otherwise have done. 
Secondly, it appears to be somewhat shorter in distance. Mr. Abra- 
ham Harrison now residing near Union, Illinois, claims that the party 
did go along the second trail, and remained all night with his family. 
He is positive of this fact, and explains it by saying that the Harrisons 
and Lincolns were friends in Kentuclcy. He says further that the 
party traveled over the trail to the point where it converges with the 
first trail near Melrose. From this point he believes that the party 
went northward without road or guide to Grand View, Edgar County, 



8 

where they remained some little time. This statement is supported by 
Mr. H. C. Bell, of Washington, D. C, who has interviewed many of the 
old citizens of Clark County on the subject. Mrs. Chapman, however, 
denies that the party went to Grand View. (See Appendix, C, E, H). 

Assuming that the party did not turn off as Mr. Harrison thinks, 
they at last, arrived at a point on -what is now the National Eoad at 
the site of Martinsville. From this point, at least two routes were 
available. The journey could have been continued along the Indian 
ti-ail to a point on the p]mbarrass River in what is now Coles County. 
The second route w-as the line of the National Epad leading south- 
westward to Vandalia. Evidence in the surveyor's office of Clark County 
indicates that the route of the National Eoad had been surveyed at that 
time and tlie trees removed from it, (See Appendix, Gr), and Mrs. 
Chapman swears that the party took this route, crossing the Embar- 
rass Eiver at what is now the village of Greenup. Her reasons for mak- 
ing this statement are shown in her affidavit. (See Appendix, C). 
There is, however, a tradition among some of the descendants of the 
Halls, that the party crossed the Embarrass Eiver in Coles County, 

Mrs. Chapman says further that the party passed through what is 
now 'Paradise Township, Coles County. It has yet to be ascertained 
whether or not any traveled roads led from the National Eoad near 
Greenup tlirough Paradise. If Mrs. Chapman is correct in saying that 
the party was in Greenup and in Paradise, there probably was a road 
or trail connecting the two places, and there is some evidence that 
tends to sustain this assumption. Some four miles north of Greenup 
and on the west bank of the Embarrass Eiver is the site of a former 
Indian village. In the early thirties a road from Charleston to Greenup 
ran in this vicinity. It is not at all improbable that the Indians were 
using a well beaten trail in going down the west bank of the river to 
the ^Yabash country. Tlie fact that this country was in Clark County 
in 1830, and that a part of the Clark County records have been de- 
stroyed by fire prevents a closer investigation. 

If it be assumed that the party w^as at Paradise,' several questions 
arise. Where did the party strike the Paris-Shelbyville road? Did 
the party travel on this road any distance, or did it go in a northwest 
direction to Macon County? 13id the party go to Shelbyville, and 
then to Decatur? In 1830 there appears to have been a mail road 
leading from Paris to Shelbyville, through what is now Charleston 
and south of the present city of Mattoon. This road followed a termin- 
al moraine, and throughout its entire length lay on ground higher 
than that on either side. There are those who would have the party 
take a northwesterly direction from Coles County thus missing the Kas- 
kaskia Eiver bottoms as much as possible. But there is a question about 
not only the advisability of this route but also its possibility. Old men 
in the neighborhood of the counfiy through Avhich such a route lies, say 
that traveling tlirough there in 1830 would have been all but impossible. 
It is hoped, however, that a careful search in this region will throw light 
on the question sufficient to say with some considerable degree of cer- 
tainty just how the party went. It will perhaps entail new problems 



9 

with new solutions, but until it is demonstrated conclusivel}^ tliat noth- 
ing will come of the investigatioji, no efforts should be spared to ascertain 
the truth. 

When we get to Decatur the ground is more secure. Judge J. 0. 
Cunningham states from personal knowledge that Mr. Lincoln once 
stood in front of the court house in Decatur and declared that the 
party had stopped almost at the point where he was then standing, 
(See Appendix, F), furthermore that the entry into Decatur was by 
the road leading from the south near what is now the Illinois Central 
right of way. This statement is supported by another eye witness refer- 
red to in Judge Cunningham's letter. From Decatur to the Lincoln 
farm in Macon County the route seems to have been located several 
years ago, hence there is no reason to anticipate any trouble in that 
locality. 

Mr. James K. Eardin of Charleston, has put forth the claim that the 
Lincolns crossed the Wabash Eiver at Vincennes in 1831, passed through 
Lawrenceville, thence in a northwesterly direction to Vandalia. From 
A^andalia, he says they returned to Paradise, Coles County, where they 
remained several months with relatives and friends. (See Appendix, 
D). Hon. H. C. Bell formerly of Clark County, Illinois, but now of 
Washington, D. C, believes that the Lincolns went from somewhere 
near York to Grandview in Edgar County where they "tarried for a 
while." (See Appendix, E). 

There is one other bit of evidence that needs further attention. At 
the Linooln-Douglas Debate held at Charleston in 1858, a banner, upon 
which was depicted a stripling driving an ox team, and the inscrip- 
tion, "Abe's entrance into Charleston thirty years ago," was swung 
across the street. It may have been intended to mean that he actually 
passed through the site of Charleston, or in its vicinity in some part 
of what afterwards became Coles County. 

This part of the report is intended to give a general idea as to what 
has been accomplished. Although the evidence as printed in the accom- 
panying appendix might seem to warrant the belief that a part of the 
"Way" has been definitely located, those having the investigation in 
charge deem it advisable to continue the investigation at every point. 

Plans for Further Investigation. 

The methods of procedure used in the investigation up to this point 
are to be continued, and in addition, plans are under way to indicate 
on maps, all lands entered before the year 1831, hoping that some light 
may be thrown on the means of communication between the older 
settlements on the Wabash and the interior of the State. It is also 
proposed to have the surveys and the surveyors' notes examined for lo- 
cations of roads and trails. This sort of an investigation will require 
considerable work in the archives at Springfield, and possibly at Wash- 
ington. If the opportuuity offers, gazetteers and books of travel, not 
now available in Illinois libraries, will be examined. As the work 
progresses other methods may suggest themselves, and those having 



10 

charge of the investigation will welcome not only every bit of infor- 
mation regarding tlie "Way"' itself, but also any suggestion as to man- 
ner of procedure in carrying on the work. 

It would perhaps be of interest to the library board and the people 
at large to know that a great many people in Indiana have iDCcome very 
much interested in our work in locating the "Lincoln Way." , Already 
a movement is on foot in that State to memorialize the Legislature to 
cooperate with Illinois in locating and marking the "Way." Whatever 
may be done, it is of the greatest importance that the last possible 
source be exhausted before a final determination is made. To do this, 
considerable time and effort, and a moderate expenditure of money, are 
required. Noble men and women both in and out of the State have 
pledged themselves to work unceasingly until every bit of evidence about 
the "Lincoln Way" has been unearthed and examined; and supported 
by their encouragement and cooperation, the library board and those 
selected to supervise the investigation should not hesitate to continue 
their labors to the very end. 



APPENDIX. 



13 



A 



State:\iext of Z. D. Frexch. 

Lawrenceville, Illinois. 

It is the tradition in and around the city of La-\vrenceville, Illinois^, 
that the Lincoln family in going from Indiana to Illinois crossed the 
Wabash Eiver at Yincennes, Indiana, entered LaAvreticeville on what 
is now State Street, turned northward on what is now 10th Street, 
crossed Emban-ass Eiver at the point where a steel bridge now stands, • 
and journeyed to Palestine. 

(Signed.) ' Z. D. Frexch. 



B 



Affidavits of James Wade Emisox^, William 0. Egach, William 
J. Trout axd William A. Taylor. 

State of Ixdiax^a^ ? . 

Knox County. ) 

James Wade Emison being duly sworn upon his oath says that he 
was born on the 7th day of February, 1859, on a farm near the town 
of Bruceville, Knox County, Indiana, which said farm was settled by 
Eichard Posey of South Carolina somewhere about the year 1800. 

Affiant further says that his grand-father, William W. C. Emison, 
was bom at Greorgetown, Kentucky, in 1804. That in 1805 the said 
William Emison's parents moved from Georgetown, Kentucky, to a 
point on Mariah Creek, in Knox County, Indiana, on the Bruceville 
and Eussellville Highway. That the said William W. C. Emison upon 
arriving at the age of manhood intermarried with Elizabeth Posey, the 
daughter of said Eichard Posey, and thereafter made his home upon 
said Posey farm, said farm in the course of years coming into his 
possession and thereafter into the possession of the son of said William 
C. Emison, to wit: John W. Emison, who was the father of this affiant. 



14 



- AiRant further says tliat tlic Vincenncs and Bruceville Hidiwa>. 
. passed along the western edge of said farm, and has been located prac- 
tically upon Its present route for more than one hundred years last 

Affiant further says tliat his said grand-father many times called hi- 
attention to tJie point upon said highway where he had first seen Abra- 
ham Lmcoln Ihat said point so designated by him was within a shor; 
distance of the Posey and Emison Homestead, and at a point which 
is now immediately m front of the present Emison Homestead. 

Affiant further says that his said grandfather stated that Abraham 
Lincoln and his father, together with his father's family, and one Mr 
Hanks were moving m wagons, drawn by ox teams, and that this occur- 

stated to him that they had come from Southern Indiana, from the 
ocahty now known as Spencer County, and that thev were movin- to 
the Sangamon countiy, m the State of Illinois 

Affiant further says that his said grand-father and father talked of 
these things many times, in the presence of this affiant, and further 

[o tit fZ?^' PT ^°T/^-'''1i ^^''^ ''''^ ^"^^^'^^^^^^ Lincoln had returned 
It that tilne ^'^^'^"' ^^ ^^'^ ^'''' 1^44, and made a political speech 

Affiant further says that both' his said father and grand-father were 
Fremont Eepubhcans, and were ardent admirers aSd supporter, ot 
Abraham Lincoln, and that it was on account of their c^reat admiration 

Affiant further says that the Emison family at the time herein spoken 
of were owners of the stage line, both freight and pass^n^er Tom 
Eyansville in the State of Indiana, to Terr? Haute in the State of 
Indiana. That said stage line north of Vincennes and for a di tance 
of some fiye or six miles, was through heayy sand, and that Mr. Sn! 
coin explained o his said grand-father that they had come around by 
way of Bruceyille, which was slightly out of their way, in order hat 
they might ajoid drinng through said stretch of heayy sand 

Affiant further says that his grand-father in relatin- the story of 
IS meeting with Lincoln informed him that Mr. Lincoln sa d tha 
when they reached the town of Bruceyille, which was a short distance 
away, they proposed to turn west on the Bruceyille and Eus 1 y"] e 
S'n/ ?n ^^°^%^\ Wabash Eiyer from the State of Indi na! to e 
State of Illinois, at the Russcllyille forcT 

Affiant further says that his said father and irrand-father in after 
years Wame warm personal friends of the said Abraham LiLX fnd 
that on account of their said relations with him, and on account of the 
disposition of his said grand-father at all times to be exacf.^d truthful 
m all his statements, he has no question but that hT safd " 
v^ir Va\ \'' ^^^^^"i^^ting with Abraham Lincoln, and tl^e con- 
\ersations had between them, arc in all things true. 

Q, 1 M 1 -1 (Signed) 'Tames W.\de Emison" 

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 2nd day of Xoyember lOl'^ 

(Signed) WiLLi.\M S. Hoover. 

Notary Publir. 



15 

State of Indiana^ l^gg 
Knox County. i 

Wiliam 0. Eoach being duly sworn upon his oath says that he is 
63 years of age past. That during his childhood, through his youth, 
and up to the period of manhood he lived in the family of John W. 
Emison, who was the son of William W. C. Emison, and the father of 
James Wade Emison, who is at this time a practicing lawyer in the 
city of Yincennes, Knox County, Indiana. That he knew William W. 
C. Emison well. That he often heard him speak of the first time he 
had ever seen Abraham Lincoln. That he pointed out a spot on the 
Vincennes and Bmceville Highway where he had seen Mm. That he 
said it was in the year of 1830. That the Lincoln family were moving 
from Spencer County, Indiana, to the Sangamon country in the State 
of Illinois. That they were driving ox teams. That they told him 
they had diverged from the old stage road, and come round by Bruce- 
ville in order to avoid the heavy sand in the stage road. That after 
they arrived at the town of Bmceville, which was near by, and which 
was an old settlement, having been founded before the year, 1800, they 
proposed to turn west on the Bruceville and Eussellville Eoad, and 
cross tlie Wabash Eiver from the State of' Indiana to the State of 
Illinois at the ford located near the town of Eussellville. 

Affiant further says that immediately after the assassination of Abra- 
ham Lincoln, he heard the said William W. C. Emerson and his son 
John W. Emison, and his brother-in-law, Dr. John Posey, talking about 
the Lincoln pilgrimage from Indiana to Illinois. That upon this oc- 
casion the said William W. C. Emison spoke of the place w^here he had 
first seen Aliraham Lincoln and repeated substantially the story herein- 
before set forth. 

Affiant further says that the said Emisons were warm friends and 
great admirers of the said Lincoln and that his life and character were 
WT-th them a f niitful source of conversation. 

Affiant further says that some time between the years 1872 and 1880 
he heard Joseph Van Meter, who was at that time a very old man, and 
who lived near the Emison Mill located on the Bruceville and Eussell- 
ville Highway, say that the Lincolns in traveling west in the year 1830 
had camped over night near said mill. That he saw them at that time 
and talked to them as to where they came from, and where they were 
going. 

(Signed) W. 0. Eoach. 

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 5th day of November, 1912. 

W. C. Wittenmtek, 

Notary Public. 

State of Indiana, ' ss ' 
Knox County. ( 

William J. Trout being duly sworn upon his oath says that he is 
68 years of age past. That he is the old(Jst son of the Daniel J. Trout 
hereinafter mentioned in his relations with William W. C. Emison. 



16 

Affiant further says that in the early tiin.cs^ the site of the town of 
Bruceville was a meeting point of several important Indian tribes. 
That this fact no doubt determined the location of said town. 

Affiant further says that one Indian trail ran in a northeasterly 
course from Vincennes, passing through Bruceville, and ending at the 
west end of Lake Erie. That another Indian trail extended directly 
nortli to the south end of Lake Michigan. That another Indian trail, 
and the most important of all of said trails ran east passing out of the 
county of Knox at Apraw on White Kivcr, and west passing out of said 
county opposite liussellville, Illinois. 

Alliant further says that this trail extended to Cincinnati, Ohio, and 
all points lying east, and was a trail connecting Cincinnati and Pales- 
tine, Illinois. That said trail was an ideal natural highway, and 
avoided unfordable streams, dense forests and wet and marshy low lands. 
That said trail was much used, first by the Indians, afterwards by Avhite 
traders, hunters and trappers in going and returning on their trips, 
and thereafter by movers going west. 

Affiant further says that if there ever was a trail such as the fore- 
going, leading south from any point in Knox County, and crossing the 
main stream of White Eiver, he never heard of it, and further that he 
does not believe there ever was such a trail, or could have been one. 
The deep streams, the wide bottoms, the dense forests, and drowned 
low lands of this region made it impossible. 

Affiant further says that the Lincoln family in their removal from 
Spencer County, Indiana, to the Sangamon countiy in Illinois, would 
have been forced by the natural lay of the country, to have traveled 
along a route lying east of the west fork of the White Eiver, and that 
the natural and only practicable course of travel from their starting 
point was to have traveled through Pike County and Daviess County to 
a point on the west fork of the White Eiver, known as Apraw ford. 
That said route was not only well marked and much traveled, but was 
located upon high ground, and across the most easily fordable streams. 
That from said point at Apraw, said highway, which had theretofore 
been an Indian trail, passed in a westerly direction through Bruceville, 
and thereafter passed the Emison mill, located on Mariah Creek, and 
whicli was built in ISOT, and thence on in a westerly direction to the 
ford crossing the Wabash Eiver at Eussellville, and tlience on to Pales- 
tine. 

Affiant further says that said route was the only practicable one which 
the Lincolns could have taken in their journey from Indiana to Illinois. 

Affiant further says that he had always been informed and believed 
that after crossing White Eiver at said Apraw ford, the Lincoln family 
then journeyed over a well marked out highwa}^ to Yincennes. and that 
said highway from said ford at Apraw to Vincenncs was upon high land, 
and was an excellent natural highway. 

Affiant further says that they visited Vincennes, which was the most 
noted point in all the Western countrv, and a place at which was lo- 
cated a government land office and one of the very few printing presses 
then in existence in the West. 



17 

AflBant further says that naturally upon leaving Yinccnnes, said 
Lincoln family would have resumed their journey to the Sangamon 
countiy by going to Bruceville, as the nearest practicable way to get into 
the great line of East and West travel hereinbefore spoken of, further 
that the line of the Lincoln pilgrimage must of natural necessity have 
been from Apraw to Vincennes, thence to Bruceville, thence to Eus- 
sellville, Illinois. 

Affiant further says that the Lincolns could not have crossed into 
Illinois at Vincennes, and thence up to Eussellville for the reason that 
the country north of Vincennes and west of the Wabash Eiver Avas full 
of impassable swamps, and contained one deep river, to wit, the Em- 
barrass. 

Affiant further says that his father started in about the year 1837 
to learn the tanners' trade of William W. C. Emison, who resided near 
Bruceville, and lived all or most of the time in said Emison family until 
his own marriage in 1843. 

Affiant further says that his said father remained working for the 
said William W. C. Emison in his tan yard until the year 181:5, at 
which time he moved to Edwardsport, on the west fork of White Eiver, 
in Ivnox County, buying and operating a tan yard of his own. 

Affiant further says that his said father lived in said Knox County 
until his death in 1874. 

Affiant further says that he heard his father at different times make 
mention of Lincoln's journey, and that he feels assured that the story 
he related was learned from said William W. C. Emison, the same in all 
"things agreeing with the story related by James Wade Emison, who is 
the grand-son of William W. C. Emison. 

(Signed) William J. Trout. 

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 4th day of jSTovember, 1912. 

(Signed) E. L. McClure, 

Notary Public. 



State OF Indiana^ 
Knox County. 



ss. 



William A. Taylor being duly sworn upon his oath says that he is 
56 years of age past. That in the year 1830 his mother was a child 
six years of age^ and lived in the town of Bruceville, Knox County, 
Indiana. 

That he had often heard her say that the Lincoln family in moving 
from the State of Indiana to the Sangamon country in Illinois, came 
from Vincennes, and passed through Bruceville, crossing the Wabash 
Eiver into Illinois at Eussellville ford. 

Affiant further says that his mother spoke of these things often, and 
that the Lincolns and his mother's family had been former friends, 
further stating at the time said family passed through Bruceville, she 
saw them and conversed with them. 

Affiant further says that his step-father. Dr. ]\IcGowen, often related" 
to him the fact that when Mr. Lincoln and his family removed from 
Indiana to Illinois, that the family came into Knox County by cross- 



18 

ing at "the Apraw ford on White Kivcr. That the Lincohis and the Mc- 
Gowens had been friends and acquaintances and neighbors in earlier 
years in the State of Kentucky. That the ]\IcGowens lived at said 
Apraw ford, and that the Lincolns stopped over night with the Mc- 
Gowcns at said Apraw ford. That thereafter they journeyed to Vin- 
cennes, and afterwards resumed their journey leaving the cit}'' of Vin- 
cennes by the Bruceville road, passing through Bruceville, and then 
turning in a westerly direction on the Bruceville and Eussellville road, 
and crossing the "Wabash Eiver at Eussellville ford. 

x\ifiant furth-er says that his said mother and his said step-father 
spoke often of said journey, and spoke of the fact that the family were 
moving with ox wagons. 

(Signed) W\ A. Taylor. 

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 7th day of November, 1912, 

(Signed) William S. Hoover, 

Notary Public. 



C 



Affidavit of Harriet Ciiapmax, Chaelestox, Illinois. 

State of Illinois, ( 
Coles County. f 

Harriet Chapman being first duly sworn, on oath, deposes and says 
that she is now and has been for more than seventy-five (75) years last 
past a resident of Charleston, Coles County, Illinois, and that she is 
now past eightj'-six (86) years of age. 

Affiant further states that she was a member 'of the Lincoln party 
that came from Spencer Countv, Indiana, to Decatur, Illinois, in the 
year 1830. 

Affiant further states that the party had three covered wagons, two 
drawn by oxen, and one by horses, and two saddle horses, also that the 
party consisted of affiant, her fathep and mother, Dennis F. Hanks and 
Elizabeth Hanks, and her brother, John Hanks, her sisters, Sarah Jane 
and Nancy Hanks; Squire Hall and wife, jMatilda Hall, and one child 
named John Hall ; Thomas Lincoln and his wife Sarah Lincoln, and 
child, x\braham Lincoln, and John Johnson. 

Affiant further states that she is related to Abraham Lincoln in this 
way, "That her father was a second cousin to Abraham Lincoln, and 
that affiant was by marriage a gi-and-daughter of Thomas Lincoln, said 
Thomas Lincoln's wife Sarah being a grandmother of affiant." 

Affiant further states that the party was at Vincennes, Indiana, and 
that the party in leaving Vincennes went by land, camped first night out 
near a grist mill; that the party crossed the Wabash Eiver the next day 
(the second day after leaving Vincennes, Iiuliana). 

Affiant further states that the party passed through Palestine, Illinois, 
that she remembers said town from the fact that it had a Bible name. 



19 

Affiant further states that the party finally reached the National Road, 
and crossed the Embarrass Eiver at Greenup, Illinois; passed through 
Paradise, located in what is now the southwestern corner of Coles 
County, Illinois. Affiant states that she has often heard her father, 
Dennis Hanks, speak of crossing the Embarrass, Eiver at Greenup, 
Illinois, and that the cause of said Hanks speaking of this event repeat- 
edly was, that he afterwards worked on the bridge built at that point. 

Affiant further states that the party did not follow the National Road 
far west of Greenup, that it did not go to Vandalia, Illinois, and that 
the trip was made directly to Decatur. 

Affiant further states that she is in possession of a photograph of 
Abraham Lincoln, that said photograph was sent to her by Mr. Lincoln 
accompanied by a letter, in which he stated "that I am sending you the 
photograph that I promised you." The letter further stated that "this 
is the first photograph that I have ever had taken." 

(Signed) Harriet Chapman. 

Subscribed and sworn to before me this 2nd dav of November, A. D. 
1912. 

(Signed) W. 0. Bennett, 

Notary Public. 

Note — Histories usually spell "Johnson" with a "t" as Johnston; 
There are accounts showing that the party had but one ox team; in 
speaking of Greenup, the site of Greenup is intended; by an oversight 
there was omitted from this affidavit the following : "The affiant further 
states that her knowledge of events as sworn to in this affidavit is based 
upon remembrances and upon hearing her parents talk after she became 
a young lady." 



D 



Extract from the Charleston Daily News, September 10, 1912.* 

The Daily News has been asked where and how the Lincoln-Hanks 
people came from Indiana to Illinois. It is certain they came in the 
spring of 1831 by going to Vincennes, then to Lawrenceville, and start- 
ed for Vandalia, going in what we would now call the Cumberland Road 
at Ewington. They went to A'andalia, and there they called on William 
Lee Ewing, asking for the Radley's in Coles County-, and John Hanks, 
somewhere u.p in the "SangamaV country. Ewing seemed ta have 
known the Hanks' and Lincolns in Kentucky, but while the writer asked 
Dennis Hanks how they happened to loiow Ewing, the answer was lost 
by an interruption. 

Ewing was either a state senator or something like that at the time 
and he seemed to know where Hanks and Radley lived, for he explained 
that while there was a bridge across the Kaskaskia or Okaw at Van- 
dalia, there were no bridges upon the Decatur branch of the Sangamon 
River. That they would "have to back track to Ewington, which seemed 



♦Written presumably by the e^^itor, Mr. James K. Hardin. 



20 

to be a town Ewiug was interested in, and then they should go northeast 
on the brakes between tlie Kaskaskia, Little Wabash and Embarrass 
Rivers, which passed through Coles County, and to Paradise, where 
Radley was iimning for coroner in the new county of Coles, the election 
being in August. They went there and stayed between spring and fall 
and then went to John Hanks' clearing in Macon County. That they 
crossed the Kaskaskia or Okaw, either at Cooks Mills on the -Charleston 
and Springfield trace, or at Bagdad on the Paris and Springfield trace 
which join northwest, and it w^as thought there was where a mighty 
city would be located, but not so. 

Thomas Lincoln and wife lived near the John Hanks vicinity that 
winter of 1831-32 and then went liack to Paradise as they had the ague 
and wanted to go back to Indiana but could not raise the money. 

Abraham Lincoln was of age and stayed with John Hanks and never 
lived in Coles County. The "Cavalcade" never w-ent to Springfield. 

The Lincolns, except iVbraham, and the Johnstons and Hanks' except 
John, settled in Coles, and hiiuflrcds and huridrods of their descendants 
live in Coles to this date . 



E 



Extract FROii an Article by Hon. H. C. Bell, Washington, D. C* 

According to the best information to be had, and from men like Sam 
Lac)-, who never forgot anything he ever knew, William B. Archer, 
HeniT Harrison, Robert Lacy, Chester Handy, the elder Shaws and Abe 
Harrison himself, the Lincoln caravan, which consisted of a number 
of Lincolns, Hanks, and other families, did cross the Wabash at Vin- 
cenncs, thence to Lawrenceville up along the old Indian river trail to 
Russellville, through Palestine and Hutsonville, and thence up to the 
Musgi-ave place in Crawford County. It is not clear whether the cara- 
van then passed through the Raccoon Creek bottoms, by the lower road, 
as it is called and tlirough York, or whether it kept on upon high 
grounds past the old Henry Holliday place and across the creek some- 
where between the now Big Four railroad bridge and the place where 
the iron bridge spans Raccoon Creek near the old Henry Halliday, Bill 
Lindley, John Lindley farms; but inasmuch as the Lincoln caravan 
readied the Musgravc place, where the road between early spring in 
March, and when Hutsonville and York forks, in the Raccoon Creek 
Avas then most always high, and when it would have been difficult to get 
to York by the lower road, as it is called, it probably went either around 
by the Holliday place or crossed the creek near the Big Four railroad 
bridge, as it now is, and then crossed the Aimes branch near the big 
spring where it would have been handy and convenient to pitch c<imp 
for the night, and on to the high dry ridge on the lands now oAvned by 
Dr. Cullop, of West York, and keeping still on high and dry land and 
still pursuing the old Indian trail, the only sort of roads in those early 
days, on through Ihe old Bradbury, Henry Prevo, Jonathan Hogue 



21 

farmS;, the latter now owned bj- Samuel C. Prevo, and still on^ not 
throngh York, necessarily, but on through the farms now owned by 
Eobert Mitchell and Jim Mitchell, or the old Henry Prevo farm, and 
on through the home lands of Sam and Bob Lacy, and who, as I remem- 
ber, actually knew of the passage of the Lincoln caravan through these 
parts of Clark County and thence turning in a northwesterly direction, 
still pursuing the old Indian trail, which was said to have traversed 
a hundred miles from Vincennes to Grandview, in Edgar County, where 
the Lincolns tarried for awhile Avithout ever having to go over but one 
or two hills, one of them at the old Alf. Cowden farm near the church. 
Potter Hall, I believe it is called. 



F 



A Lettei! fro:m Judge J. 0. Cunninghaj*!. 

Urbaua, October 30, 1911. 
Mr. Charles M. Thompson: 

My Dear Sir — Yours asking for Mr. Ijiucoln's remarks '•about hav- 
ing come through Decatur on their way to Macon County," is before me. 

Maj. Henry C. Whitney in his "Life on the Circuit with Lincoln" al- 
ludes to this visit to Decatur and quotes his recollections of what Mr. 
Lincoln said upon that occasion, using these words: "After supper we 
strolled out for a walk and when we came to the court house Lincoln 
walked O'ut a few .steps in front and after shifting his position two or 
tliree times he said, as he looked up at the building, partly to himself 
and partly to me, "Here is the exact s2>ot where I stood by our w^agon 
when we moved from Indiana twenty-six years ago; this isn't six feet 
from the exact spot." Pie said further to me, "We came into town and 
kept on and made our first stop right in front of the court house, where 
we now are." 

^ H: ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ H: 

He then told me he had frequently thereafter tried to locate the route 
l>y which they had come ; and that he had decided that it was near thr 
line of the main line of the Illinois Central Eailroad." 

My recollection of the event is about as Maj. Wliitney has here given 
it. Although he in his account of the Decatur visit has ignored the 
presence in the company of any luit himself and Lincoln, there were 
in fact several of us. 

In my paper read before the State Historical Society at the annual 
meeting in January, 1905, on page 10-1 of our publication Xo. 10, in 
treating of the Bloomington convention of 1856, I speak at largo of this 
visit to Decatur and of the persons with 'Mr. Lincoln. 

Yours. 
(Signed) J. 0. Cunningham. 



22 
G 



.1. F. I.Ari'KKTV. SrijvKYon. Ci,ai;k Coitnty. 

^rartiiisvillf. 111.. Xov. 11. l!>r<J. 
Mr. Thompson: 

Dear Sir — " * * * There were no laid out roads in this Coun- 
ty before 1836; all travel was on trails. The ijiited States Road' (so 
called by the engineers of the regular army) was surveyed and cleared 
of trees in 1828 and 1829. In 1830 grading was begun, and later bridges 
were built. Records at Marshall show a trail crossing the route of the 
Xational Koad. and the Xorth Fork of the Embarrass River in Sec. Ck 
T. 10 N., R. 13 W., near the present town of Martinsville, but no other 
trail between it and the State line. 

Chancellor and his father's family came here from Kentucky in 1825, 
crossing the Wabash at Yincennes, and follow'ing the old Indian trail 
from Palestine. They located a cabin on Sec. 4, T. 10 N'., R. 13 W. 
Their only neighbors were Bena Dolson and George Parker. The for- 
mer lived' in Sec. 7, T. 9 N., R. 12 W., while Parker lived in Sec. 31, 
T. 12 N., R. 14 W. There were thirteen tribes of Indians located on 
the Xorth Fork of the Fmbarniss IJiver. in Fdgar. Clark and Crawford 
Counties. * '•' ■'^' " 



(Signed) .1. F. Laffekty. 



H 



.\ Lkttki; fko:\i :Mi;. \V. 0. Bkn-xett. 

Charleston, Illinois, Xovember M. 1912. 
Mr. i'harlcn M. Thompson, Champaign, III.: 

Dear Mr. Thompson- — T had a talk with Mrs. Chapman last evening 
and she said there was no truth whatever in the report that the TTank-s 
family stopped at Crandview and located in Edgar' County, while the 
Lincolns went on to Decatur. She said that the entire jiarty went all 
the way together and all located in Macon County. 

Yours truly, 
(Signed) \V. O. Benxett. 



I R./^'ic: 



